Viscoelastic Damping in Electromagnetic Fluid Valves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for regulating the flow of liquid or gaseous media lack the ability to achieve precise and vibration-free control over a wide range of flow rates, often resulting in flow fluctuations and noise due to frictional interactions.
Innovation Solution
The use of viscoelastic damping bodies, such as gel-like materials like polyurethane or silicone, applied to the valve member to provide speed-dependent dynamic damping, preventing vibrations and stick-slip transitions, and arranged to experience compression pressure when the sealing element lifts off the valve seat, with multiple damping bodies offset by the same circumferential angle supported on a flat spring and valve cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional valve members with frictional contact are used, then the valve can maintain sealing contact, but flow fluctuations and vibrations occur during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional friction-based mechanical contact between valve member and valve body with a magnetic field-based contactless actuation system. The electromagnet generates a magnetic field that acts on the magnet armature, eliminating mechanical friction and stick-slip transitions while maintaining precise control of the valve member's position and sealing contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnet armature as an intermediary element between the electromagnet and the valve member. This magnet armature is acted upon by the magnetic field and transmits the force to the valve member, enabling contactless actuation while maintaining reliable sealing contact through the valve seat.
2Device complexity
If friction-based valve members are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but stick-slip transitions and noise occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the friction-based mechanical system with a magnetic field-based system. The electromagnet and magnet armature create a contactless actuation mechanism that eliminates stick-slip transitions and noise while maintaining structural simplicity through the direct magnetic coupling between the electromagnet and valve member.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional valve members are used, then manufacturing is simple, but precise flow regulation over wide dynamic range is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic field actuation to achieve precise control of the valve member's position and the flow opening area. The magnetic field strength can be precisely controlled through the electromagnet's current, enabling accurate flow regulation over a wide dynamic range while maintaining simple manufacturing of the basic valve structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamically adjustable magnetic field system that can rapidly change the valve member's position in response to control signals. This dynamic control capability enables precise flow regulation over a wide range of flow rates, from very low to very high flow conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables a dynamic range greater than 1:2000, allowing for fine and precise flow regulation with minimal delay and no significant hysteresis, preventing flow fluctuations and noise, while maintaining low friction.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnet that actuates the valve member
Implementation Method 2
at least one, preferably viscoelastic, damping body acts on the valve member
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The device has a valve element (12) controlling a flow opening (11). A viscoelastic damping body (13) acts on the valve element. A sealing element (16) is fixed at an armature (15) of electromagnets (14), and acts together with a valve seat (17), which encloses the flow opening. A bearing element (18) is fixedly connected with the sealing element and/or the armature, and bears the valve element without friction. The damping element is exposed to compression pressure by lifting the sealing element from the valve seat. The damping element is made of polyurethane gel or silicone gel.